Macbeth: A Verse Translation
ISBN: 0-9752743-1-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-9752743-1-6
160 pages
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Macbeth Translation Excerpt
This excerpt from Act Two shows how carefully the ENJOY SHAKESPEARE translations recreate all of Shakespeare's effects. In most of this scene, Shakespeare used blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) with bits of prose.
Notice how this translation preserves the iambic pentameter rhythm across shared lines (highlighted for illustration purposes in this excerpt only, not in the published version). The prose lines are also highlighted.
Scene Two. Inside Macbeth’s Castle
[Enter LADY MACBETH]
LADY MACBETH
That which has made them drunk has made me bold.
What’s doused their flame has brought me fire.—What?—Nothing!
An owl just screeched, the bell for the condemned,
The harshest of good nights. He’s doing it.
The doors are open, and the stuffed attendants
Scoff at their job with snores. I’ve drugged their nightcaps,
So nature’s forces battle here to see
If they will live or die.
[MACBETH is heard from beyond a door]
MACBETH
Who’s there?—What’s that?
LADY MACBETH
Oh, no! I am afraid they’ve woken up
And it’s not done. Attempt without the deed
Will wreck us.—Listen!—I laid out their daggers.
He couldn’t miss them.—Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I would have done it.
My husband?
[Enter MACBETH, holding bloody daggers]
MACBETH
I’ve done the deed. Did you hear any noise?
LADY MACBETH
I heard the owl screech and the crickets cry.
You did not speak?
MACBETH
When?
LADY MACBETH
Now.
MACBETH
As I descended?
LADY MACBETH
Yes.
MACBETH
Wait!—The next room, who’s in it?
LADY MACBETH
Donalbain.
MACBETH
[Looking at his hands] This is a sorry sight.
LADY MACBETH
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH
First one laughed in his sleep, and one cried, “Murder!”
Enough to wake each other. I froze and listened,
But then they said their prayers and settled down
And fell asleep.
LADY MACBETH
The two share the same room.
MACBETH
One cried, “God bless us!” The other said, “Amen.”
As if they’d seen me with these hangman’s hands.
Hearing their fear, I could not say “Amen,”
When they had said, “God bless us.”
LADY MACBETH
Don’t think too deeply.
MACBETH
But why could I not say the word “Amen?”
I need his blessing most, and yet “Amen”
Stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH
We must not think about
These deeds this way, or it will drive us mad.
MACBETH
It seemed I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more!
Macbeth has murdered sleep,”—yes, innocent sleep,
Sleep that rewinds unraveled threads of care,
The death of each day’s life, hard work’s warm bath,
Salve for hurt minds, and nature’s biggest course,
Chief nourishment in life’s feast.
LADY MACBETH
What do you mean?
MACBETH
Still it cried, “Sleep no more!” to all the house.
“Glamis has murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more!”
LADY MACBETH
And who cried out all this? Why, worthy thane,
You will no doubt untwist your noble strength
If you’re this addle-brained.—Go get some water,
And wash this filthy evidence off your hands.
And why’d you bring these daggers from the room?
They must stay there. Go take them back and smear
Blood on the sleeping men.
MACBETH
I can’t go back.
I am afraid to think what I have done.
I don’t dare look.
LADY MACBETH
A weakening resolve!
Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead
Are merely paintings. Only childish eyes
Will fear the devil’s picture. If there’s blood,
I’ll bronze the faces of his servants with it—
It must appear they’re guilty.
[She exits. Knocking is heard]
MACBETH
What’s that knocking?
What’s wrong with me, when every noise sends panic?
What hands are these? Ha, they’ve plucked out my eyes!
Could all of Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this, my hand, would cause
A multitude of seas to fleshify,
Turning their green a single shade of red.
[Re-enter LADY MACBETH]
LADY MACBETH
My hands are now your color, but I’d be
Ashamed to have a heart this white.
[Knocking is heard]
There’s knocking
At the south entrance. Let’s go to our room.
A little water clears us of this deed.
How easy it all is! Your steadiness
Has now deserted you.
[Knocking is heard]
Hear that? More knocking.
Put on your robe, so if we’re called upon
We’ll look as if we’ve slept. Don’t lose yourself
In morbid thoughts.
MACBETH
I cannot face this deed and face myself.
[Knocking is heard]
Wake Duncan with your knocking! I wish you could!
[Exit]
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